Gripper mechanism for lasting-machines



.lmmm Max. 29 21921.

A. E. JERRAM AND F. B. KEALL. GRIPPEILMECHANISM FOR LASTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1916.

UNETED STATES PATNT ARTHUR ERNEST J ERRAML AND LEBANK BYCROFT KEALL, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORA- TION', OF PATERSOIN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GRIPPER MECHANISM FOR LASTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lriar. 29, 1921.

Application filed July 8, 1916. Serial No. 108,212.

o all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM and FRANK BYoRor'r KEALL, subj ects of the King of England, and residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have mvented certain Improvements in Gripper Mechanisms for Lasting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to grippers for hand method lasting machines and has for its purpose to provide improved forms of grippers of the kind in which the jaws move together in a curved path.

An object of the invention is to improve the construction and add to the efiiciency of operation of grippers which are adapted for employment in high-speed power operated lasting machines. In attaining this object I have been able to secure a reduction of the number of parts composing grippers of the type now used in commercial lasting machines, as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,005,234, and a general simplification of their manufacture and increase in durability thereof. A further object is to provide grippers which, while compact in construction, have a wide degree of opening or spread between the jaws to receive the edges of the upper to be engaged and yet in closing secure a firm hold on the upper material, whether thick or thin, and reduce the tendency to tearing to a minimum.

One feature of the present invention consists in a novel organization of gripper mechanism in which the operating push rod is directly and pivotally connected to the movable jaw, this construction being rendered effective by providing in addition to the link which in the said earlier form of grippers pivotally connects the moving jaw member to the fixed jaw member a second pivotal link or like positive connection connecting the jaw members at points other than the points of connection of the first link, which positive connection constrains the tip and the upper-engaging face respectively of the moving jaw member to advance, in closing, in the desired manner.

As the most uniform and firm engagement of the upper materials between the faces of the jaws is apparently secured when these faces in their approach are maintained parallel to each other in the last stages of closing, the positive connecting device above referred to is preferably so constructed and arranged as to cause the faces of the jaws to close together in this manner.

In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described the jaw faces are caused to approach each other in the manner above stated by providing as the positive connecting device a second link as above referred to itncll disposing it nearly parallel to the first in I.

I11 the accompanying drawing is shown a gripper embodying the present invention for use in a hand method lasting machine of the kind described in the specification of United States Letters Patent No. 584,744.

- In this gripper the moving jaw member 1 is pivotally connected to a link 2 mounted upon a pivot 3 on the fixed jaw member 4. The moving jaw member is connected by a pivot 5 to a push rod 6 for closing and opening the gripper. This rod works within the hollow stem"? on which the fixed jaw member is formed and is normally urged upward by aspring 8 held between an adjustable fixed collar 9 on the stem and a sliding collar 10 hearing on a pin 11 projecting laterally from the rod 6 and passing through a slot 12 formed in the stem 7. The stem 7 is provided at its upper end with a ball member 13 to which the updraw mechanism for the gripper is connected and with a strap 14 to which the plaiting mechanism is connected. At its lower end the stem 7 has a ball and socket connection 15 to the overdraw mechanism for the gripper.

The jaw member 1 has a pivot 16 connecting it to a link 17 mounted upon a pivot 18 on the aw member 4. This link 17 is more or less parallel to the link 2 and of nearly the same length, preferably shorter.

There is a substantial amount of clearance between the rod 6 and the stem 7 and the passage through the ball member 13 is somewhat coned so that the rod 6 can tilt to some extent following the movements of its point of connection to the jaw member 1.

In closing the gripper the link 17 compels the tail of the jaw member to follow an arcual path and although there is a certain angularity between the links 2 and 17 the tip of the jaw member traces out a path which is approximately an arc of a circle and in the last stages of the closing of the gripper the faces on the jaw member 1. and on thejaw member 4 are maintained practically parallel to each other. The angularity of the links 2, 17, above mentioned, refers to the divergent arrangement, as shown, in which thepivot points of the links to the jaw member 1 are at a greater distance apart than the pivot points of the links to the aw member a. This construction effects a reaching out movement of the movable jaw to gather in the stock which is more pronounced than in a construction where the links are parallel. Also, as shown, the links 2, 17 are of unequal length, the upper link 17 being the shorter. This construction contributes toward etl'ecting the same result as' the divergence of the links. It will be seen also that with this construction the faces of the jaws diverge when open and approach closing position substantially parallel to each other. Consequently, the f ces oi. the serrations on the jaws are also maintained practically parallel to each other and as the projections on the one jaw are arranged to approach the recesses on the other centrally the grip over the surface of the jaws is practically uniform despite wide variations in the thickness of the material gripped. Moreover, in the construction shown the centers of the links and their connections to the jaw member 1 are so arranged'that the jaw member 1 swings laterally away-from the-fixed jaw to a considerable distance in opening and a wide spread of the jaws in this direction is secured.

It will be understood that the construction and arrangement above described with reference to the drawing is referred to by way of example only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and a preferred mechanical embodiment thereof, we claim 1. A. ripper for a hand method lasting machine comprising a push rod, a fixed aw member, a movable jaw member having a direct pivot connection to the push. rod "for closing the jaws, and links connected to the fixed jaw member to effect gripper closing.

2. A gripper for a hand method lasting machine comprising a push rod, a fixed jaw member, a movable jaw member having a direct pivot connection to the push rod for closing the jaws, links connected to the fixed jaw member to effect gripper closing, and a supporting member for the push rod in which the rod is mounted to be tree to tilt,

substantially as described.

j a-ws, a push rod directly connected with the tail of the movable jaw, and means compelling thetail of the movable jaw to follow on arcual path.

5. A gripper for a step-by-step. power driven lasting machine comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, serrations on the jaws including projections on one jaw arranged to enter recesses on theother jaw, and operatin g connections between the jaws including a plurality of connecting links each passing from aw to jaw to maintain the. gripping faces of the jaws in divergent relation when well open and to move one jaw longitudinally relatively to the other as well as toward and from the other and to cause the jaws in the last stages of their closing movement to maintain practical parallelism of their serrated faces so that the projections on one jaw will approach the recesses on the other jaw centrally, whereby the grip over he surface of the jaws is practicallyuniform despite wide variations in the thickness of the material gripped.

6. A gripper for a step-by-step, power driven lasting machine, comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, links connecting the jaws. the movable jaw having a tail extending above the links, and a jaw operating push rod pivoted to said tail.

In testimony whereor" we have signed our names to this specification. 1

ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM. FRANK BYCROFT KEALL. 

